Lightweight shoe, in particular indoor or leisure wear shoe

ABSTRACT

A shoe whereof the upper has a double layer of woven and/or textured fabrics which for mutual connection are glued to an intermediate layer, wherein the said intermediate layer consists of at least one sheet of textile fabric which is joined by a coating of hot-setting adhesive discontinuously applied on both of its sides, to the double layer.

United States Patent in] 3,835,555

Hefele Sept. 17, 1974 [54] LIGHTWEIGHT SHOE, IN PARTICULAR 2,433,834 l/l948 Bazett 36/9 R OO 0 LEISURE WEAR SHOE 2,714,771 8/1955 Olfene 36/9 A 3,745,587 7/l973 Bradley 2/l I4 [75] Inventor: Dr. Josef Hefele, Riesheimer,

' Germany Primary ExaminerPatrick D. Lawson [73] Asslgnes' Kufner Texulwerke KG Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hill, Gross, Simpson, Van [22] Filed: Feb. 28, 1973 Santen, Steadman, Chiara & Simpson 21 Appl. No.: 336,475

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT 1972 Germany 7207835 A shoe whereof the upper has a double layer of woven and/or textured fabrics which for mutual connection [22] K413164901; are glued to an intermediate layer wherein the Said 5 R intermediate layer consists of at least one sheet of tex- 1 0 H tile fabric which is joined by a coating of hot-setting adhesive discontinuously applied on both of its sides,

[56] References Cited 0 the doub e dyer UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 2,424,777 7/1947 Stuart 36/47 LIGHTWEIGHT SHOE, IN PARTICULAR INDOOR OR LEISURE WEAR SHOE The invention relates to a lightweight shoe, in particular an indoor or leisure wear shoe, whereof the upper wholly or partially consists of a double layer of woven or textured materials which are glued to an intermediate layer for their mutual connection.

In the case of the shoes of the kind initially defined, which have been known until now, the double woven or textured material layers are joined together with a rubber latex layer. This rubber latex layer confers the required morphological stability, elasticity and stiffness to the footwear. It has the disadvantage however that it is completely or almost completely impermeable to air and humidity, so that the foot of the wearer of the shoe feels unpleasantly damp after a long period, especially in the case of a closed-type shoe, since the removal of foot persperation through the upper is prevented as a result of the dense rubber latex layer.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to devise a shoe of the kind initially defined, which lacks this disadvantage, whereof the upper is thus permeable by air and humidity, to enable the wearer of the shoe to feel comfortable in the shoe, and which nevertheless has the required morphological stability, elasticity and rigidity. According to the invention, this is accomplished by the fact that the intermediate layer between the twin layers of woven or textured material of the upper consists of at least one sheet of textile fabric which is joined to the twin layers by means of a preferably discontinu ous coating of hot-setting adhesive applied on both of its surfaces. The intermediate layer may consist of two or more sheets of textile fabrics of woven, knitted or fleecy nature which are bonded to each other by means of hot-setting adhesive, the two outer sheets having their external surfaces joined to the woven or textured layer of the upper of the shoe facing towards it.

The passage of air and humidity through the upper of the shoe is impeded to a lesser extent, if the coating of hot-setting adhesive is discontinuous. A practically unimpeded passage of air and humidity is obtained if the hot-setting adhesive is applied on the intermediate layer in a pattern consisting of dots, lines or intersecting lines. The mutual spacing between the spots or lines of adhesive preferably and corresponds approximately to the diameter or width of the spots or lines.

The foot still feels dry and unsweaty even after a long period, even within a closed-type shoe, by virtue of the largely unimpeded interchange of air and humidity between the inside and outside of the upper of the shoe. The inventive shoe has the complementary advantage that it renders it possible to make use of whole or partsurface material patterning of the upper which offers the possibility of considerable rationalisations and flexibility of the production programme. Thanks to the possibility of having different numbers of sheets of textile fabrics in the intermediate layer, a different degree of morphological stability, elasticity and rigidity may be established in different areas of the upper of the shoe. In the areas of the upper of the shoe in which a particular degree of strength and rigidity is required, the intermediate layer may consist of two or more sheets of textile fabric joined to each other by means of a coating of hot-setting adhesive. Special shoe stiffening inserts, which had been needed until now, for example in the toecap, heel or side parts of the shoe, are thereby eliminated.

The coating of the sheet of textile fabric on both sides of the intermediate layer may be produced in the form of irregular dots by a spraying or sprinkling process. An uniform coating in the form of a pattern of spots, lines or intersecting lines, which can be applied by means of printing rollers or screening stencils, is however advantageous. A coating on both sides by a sprayed or spun fleecy material or consisting of a filigree-like reticular material under application of highly viscous adhesive solutions, is also appropriate.

Polyethylene, low melting point copolyamides and polyurethanes, and polyvinylchlorides, polyacrylates, polyvinylacetates containing high proportions of plasticiser, and their copolymerisates with ethylene as well as their compositions with waxes and colophony resin derivatives, may also be considered as appropriate hotsetting adhesives.

An example of the invention given by way of example is illustrated in the drawing, partially in lateral elevation and partially in longitudinal cross-section. In this embodiment, the upper l is formed by an external layer 2 and an internal layer 3 of a woven or textured fabric in each case, these two layers being joined to each other by means of an intermediate layer 4 consisting of a material of woven, textured or fleecy nature. The joint is established by means of a coating 5 of hotsetting adhesive applied in the form of spots on both sides of the intermediate layer 4.

Whereas the intermediate layer consists of one layer 4 of a sheet of textile fabric in the part of the upper situated above the instep portion, in the area of the toecap, it consists of two such sheets of textile fabric 4a, 4b, which are joined to each other, one over the other by a coating 6 of hot-setting adhesive applied in the form of spots. The double intermediate layer provides higher morphological stability and rigidity in the area of the toecap. An analogous configuration of the upper may be incorporated in the heel portion of the shoe.

A different degree of morphological stability, elasticity and rigidity of individual areas of the upper may also be obtained by making use of different sheets of textile fabric of different rigidity in different areas.

The hot-setting adhesive may be applied on both sides of the intermediate layer, not only in the form of spots, but also of a pattern of lines or intersecting lines. A sprayed or spun fleecy material or a filigree-like reticular material to which a highly viscous adhesive solution has been applied may also be used with advantage. Application of the hot-setting adhesive in the form of spots, the adhesive spots being interconnected by a sprayed or spun fleecy fabric of hot-setting adhesive, may also be advantageous.

I claim:

1. A shoe whereof the upper is fully permeable and comprises two layers of textile fabric which for mutual connection are glued to an intermediate layer, wherein the said intermediate layer is at least one sheet of textile fabric which is joined permanently to and between the two layers by an all-over discontinuous pattern coating of hot-setting adhesive on both of its sides.

2. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer consists of two sheets of textile fabric which are joined to each other by means of hot-setting adheswe.

3. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer consists of at least one fabric selected from woven, textured and fleecy material.

4. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the hotsetting adhesive is applied on the sheet intermediate textile fabric sheet in the form of an allover pattern of spots.

5. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the hotsetting adhesive is applied on the sheet intermediate textile fabric sheet in the form of an allover pattern of lines.

6. Shoe according to claim 4, wherein the spacing between the spots of adhesive approximately corresponds and colophony resin derivatives. 

1. A shoe whereof the upper is fully permeable and comprises two layers of textile fabric which for mutual connection are glued to an intermediate layer, wherein the said intermediate layer is at least one sheet of textile fabric which is joined permanently to and between the two layers by an all-over discontinuous pattern coating of hot-setting adhesive on both of its sides.
 2. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer consists of two sheets of textile fabric which are joined to each other by means of hot-setting adhesive.
 3. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate layer consists of at least one fabric selected from woven, textured and fleecy material.
 4. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the hotsetting adhesive is applied on the sheet inteRmediate textile fabric sheet in the form of an allover pattern of spots.
 5. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the hotsetting adhesive is applied on the sheet intermediate textile fabric sheet in the form of an allover pattern of lines.
 6. Shoe according to claim 4, wherein the spacing between the spots of adhesive approximately corresponds to the diameter of the spots.
 7. Shoe according to claim 5, wherein the spacing between the lines of adhesive approximately corresponds to the width of the lines.
 8. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the hotsetting adhesive consists of polyethylene and at least one substance selected from the group consisting of low-melting point copolyamide, polyurethane, polyvinylchloride, containing a high proportion of plasticiser, polyacrylate polyvinylacetate their copolymerization products with ethylene, their compositions with waxes and colophony resin derivatives. 